Instant Pot Collard Greens (with Leftover Holiday Ham)

Instant Pot Collard Greens are a Southern tradition and are said to bring luck and good fortune to those who consume them at the start of the new year.

There is nothing better than starting the year off right with some good ole’ country cookin'.

These Instant Pot Collard Greens are what southern living is all about filling your bellies with rich meals and sharing traditions with friends, family, and colleagues.

Traditional New Year's Eve Dinner

Here in the south, collard greens, hoppin’ john, roasted pork, and cornbread are a traditional New Year's Day dinner because they bring forth good luck and fortune in the new year.

If you're not a fan of pork, give this amazing smoked turkey breast a try.

New Year's food for good luck

There are plenty of traditions surrounding New Year's Day, but Lowcountry Legend is all about getting rich...which is fine by me.

As the saying goes:

• Peas are for pennies
• Greens are for dollars
• Cornbread is for gold
• Pork is for making progress in the months ahead

My mom didn’t make collard greens very often growing up because they truly are a painstaking task. They can take upward of 2+ hours to cook on the stovetop, and they stink your house up to high heaven!

My mama didn't mess with all that nonsense so I had to rely on my Nanny or my friend's parents to bring forth my fortunes.

How to Cook Collard Greens in a pressure cooker

Lucky for us these Instant Pot Collards are as good as gold! They don’t stink up your house, and you won’t be slaving away in the kitchen all day because they cook in just 25 minutes!

There is one special ingredient that, I believe, takes this collard greens recipe over the top.

Do you have leftover holiday ham still stashed away in your fridge or freezer? Well go ahead and get your hands on that ham, baby, because it makes these greens legendary!

Ingredients/Shopping List

• 1.5 lb collard greens (bunches, thoroughly washed, trimmed, and chopped)
• 2 TB Bacon grease Or oil of choice
• 1 Large Sweet onion Finely chopped
• 4 Large Garlic cloves Minced
• 6-7 Ounces Holiday ham Diced
• 4 Cups (32 oz) Chicken stock
• ⅓ Cup Apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Sea salt
• ¾ teaspoon Freshly cracked black pepper

Additions & Substitutions

Sugar: Some folks like to add sugar to their collards, but my family does not. If you like sugar, add it, but don't go crazy! A teensy half to one teaspoon is plenty to help cut the bitterness and add the sweetness you're longing for.

Butter: You can always use butter in place of the bacon grease. Butter does make everything better! You can also go for halfsies and do half butter and half bacon grease.

Smoked Turkey Wings: These are an excellent addition if you don't have any holiday ham left over or if you can't find any ham hocks at your store.

What is a traditional New Year's Day menu?

A traditional New Year's Day menu includes Lowcountry Hoppin John made with blackeyed peas, collard greens, roasted pork, and buttermilk cornbread.

Instant Pot Collard Greens

Amber

Instant Pot Collard Greens served with Hoppin’ John and Garlic Herb Roasted Pork Loin are Lowcountry staples and are a must have on New Year’s Day!

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Southern

Servings 8 People

Calories

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 bunches Collard greens (see notes) Washed, trimmed, and chopped
• 2 TB Bacon grease Or oil of choice
• 1 Large Sweet onion Finely chopped
• 4 Large Garlic cloves Minced
• 6-7 Ounces Holiday ham (or ham steak) Diced
• 4 Cups (32 oz) Chicken stock plus more, if needed, to cover
• ⅓ Cup Apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Sea salt
• ¾ teaspoon Freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions

 

• Set Instant Pot to sauté (HIGH) and add the bacon grease when the display reads hot. Add the onion and cook until slightly brown and tender, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. About 5-6 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant. About 1 minute. Then toss the ham in the pot and saute for another 1-2 minutes.
• Deglaze the pan by slowly pouring in the chicken stock and scraping up the brown bits on the bottom of the pan. 
• Stir in vinegar, salt and pepper then add in the collards, pushing them down into the liquid with your spoon to make sure they’re all covered. Add additional chicken stock to the pan, as needed, to cover the collard greens.
• Turn off saute, lock the lid into place and set the valve to sealing. Set the instant pot to high pressure/manual and set the timer for 25 minutes. Press start. 
• Once cooked, naturally release the pressure for 10 minutes then manually release the steam and remove the lid. 
• Serve your Instant Pot Collard Greens on New Year’s Day w/ Garlic Herb Roasted Pork Loin and Hoppin’ John or with a thick slice of buttery cornbread any other time of year! 

Notes

How much is a bunch? This recipe calls for 2 bunches of collard greens. This is usually just under 2 lbs and they usually come bundled together like this at the grocery store. After removing the stems, you'll roughly have 1-1.5 lbs of collard greens. 

Nutrition

Serving: 0gCarbohydrates: 0gProtein: 0gFat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0gMonounsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgPotassium: 0mgFiber: 0gSugar: 0gVitamin A: 0IUVitamin C: 0mgCalcium: 0mgIron: 0mg

Keyword Charleston, collard greens, instant pot, instant pot collard greens, leftover holiday ham recipes, lowcountry recipes, new years day recipes, southern collards, southern recipes

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